From the Churchwardens
There are few greetings which with just three words express such hope and cheer, and at the beginning of this new year we especially feel the need for such joy and hope! Last year challenged us in varied ways, but like other extreme situations many of us were encouraged to find new ways of doing so much that had become routine. This community has found and continues to explore refreshingly different approaches to supporting and caring for each other.
So thank you to you all for everything that you have done to keep our community safe and to keep its spirit intact in what was a most trying year. Because we have all played, and continue to play, our part by following government guidance in keeping our community safe. You have found ways to innovate – a virtual horticultural show, church services live streamed, a socially distanced Nativity, which if you have not had a chance to see yet I thoroughly recommend! Technology has allowed us to be with each other even when we are keeping apart. The technology genie will not go back in the bottle, our church will continue to find ways to innovate and be present for this parish, even if not a Sunday morning as has become traditional.
We would love to hear from you with how you would like to access church. Are you enjoying services direct to your computers, at your convenience? Would you like more family style services at times that are convenient to your family? Is a weekday evening or morning a time when you would like to be in church? Is Sunday morning the time that you like to in church? Please be in contact with either of your churchwardens or a member of the PCC and let us know how and where we can meet you.
There are many people that make our church; ministers, the cleaners, the flower arrangers, sacristans, the choir, the verger, the Readers, the PCC, the treasurer, pastoral visitors, church unlockers, lesson readers, lay leaders, fabric committee, churchyard carers, technology experts, bellringers. All these people play their part every week to produce our worship, without expectation of praise or thanks, but without even one of them we would all notice that something was wrong, so thank you, you are our church body and very much appreciated.
The editorial team, and contributors, for the Hambledonian magazine have played a huge role in keeping the village spirit up over the last year, thank you all, for the time you give bring this to life every two months.
Rachel Houlberg
Helen Finch
Churchwardens